Two men are dead - after a violent and frightening armed assault in a busy part of Belize City this morning.
The shooter killed his target in a gang rivalry - while the police pursued and killed the gunman.
Here's what we gathered at the scene today. Jomarie lanza reports.
A barrage of bullets was aimed at this small food truck on East Collet Canal just after 11 this morning. The target was Clinton Pou who was at his mother's food establishment. Pou sustained injuries along with his sister Kiandra.
More than 2 dozen shots were fired by a man on the back on a motorcycle from what is believed to be from an automatic rifle. But police were in the area and they responded immediately, pursuing and shooting the suspected gunman in the Conch Shell Bay area. That man has since been identified as Ryan Barnett who died from his injuries a few hours later. And so did his target Clinton Pou.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"Police are investigating an incident which resulted in the death of 2 persons and the injury of another. Initial investigation suggests that siblings, Kiandra Pou 27 years of age and Clinton Pou 29 years of age were at a stall on East Collet Canal at approximately 11:15AM when they were fired upon. Officers on patrol in the immediate area responded to this incident and the indication is that a 3rd person namely 40 year old Ryan Barnett who the indication is that he is a suspect in that shooting incident, may have been shot in the course of police's response. Both Clinton Pou and Ryan Barnett have since succumbed to the gunshot injuries they sustained and Kiandra Pou is reported to be in a stable condition."
Reports are that this shooting may have been motivated by a gang rivalry, but police have yet to confirm this.
Reporter
"Would you be able to say if this incident had any relation to the murder of Edward Saldano that occurred last week?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"We are not able to conclusively say so however that is an area that is being explored."
And while that angle is being explored, police have yet to locate the weapon that was used in this shooting, and this afternoon The Coast Guard personnel could be seen in the Haulover creek diving for it.
We'll have more on this developing story in coming days.
